Formed in 1970, Galt, Ontario Formed in 1970 from the remnants of the R & B cover band FJ And The Impressions which included bassist Mike Gingrich and organ player Ron Baumtrog.
Amish started out playing cover versions of McKenna-Mendelson Mainline, The Modern Rock Quartet, The Doors and James Gang songs.


Amish is a Progressive / Hard Rock band, formed in Galt, Ontario, Canada, in 1970.
They released self-titled album in 1972. album originally released on the label (Sussex/Buddah) SXBS-7016 [1000 copies only press] produced by Mike Theodore & Dennis Coffey
“Amish, a sect of people whose love for the natural life has kept them perennially old-fashioned, far from the destructive energies of progress and industry. A life without electricity or automobiles, in harmony with the land.
A community of Amish people has grown up in Galt. And when five young musicians were looking for a name that would reflect their admiration and respect for simplicity and a natural way of life they had to look no farther than their neighbours.
Amish … new music. Natural music.”
The band's manager, Bill Gefross, brought them to the attention of US label Sussex Records where Motown producer Dennis Coffey and Mike Theodore, both staff producers for Sussex, took the band into GM Studios in East Detroit to record. Guitarist Botts was a draft dodger from the Viet Nam War and couldn't return to the United States to record so session guitarist Joe Gutz performed on the album instead.
Their self-titled album was distributed through Buddah Records in 1972. The album contains a remake of Traffic's "Dear Mr. Fantasy". The original song "Down The Road" was intended as a 7" release with the non-LP track "Upon My Leavin'", but the label never issued it.
After the album;s release, and a possible US tour, Amish merged with another Preston-Galt area band called Oasis and guitarist Bob Norris replaced Botts while drummer Kim Neil replaced Byrne.
Following the recording of a second album, but not released, Baumtrog left and Gery Mertz was brought in on keyboards. The band carried on for a couple of years, even as a 4-piece after the departure of Mertz.
Baumtrog is the Health & Safety Co-ordinator for Metokote Canada in Cambridge, Ontario; Mike Gingrich would play with Nightwinds in the late 1970s, Klaatu's touring bassist from November 1981 until August 1982, The Headpins in 1983 and Holly Woods And Toronto in 1984; Doug Stagg passed away in 1999.

Tracklist

1.Sad Girl 0:00
 
2.Black Lace Woman 2:57
 
3.Wise Man 7:04
 
4.Help Me 12:49
 
5.I Don 15:30

6.Dear Mr. Fantasy 18:22
 
7.The Sea 21:09
 
8.Down The Road 27:23


Credits

Ron Baumtrog - Keyboards
Jack Byrne - Drums
Mike Gingrich - Bass
Doug Stagg - Vocals
Joe Gutz - Guitar (Replace Jack Botts on the album)

plus-circle Add Review

comment

Reviews